Selections From The Splinters

THE SPLINTERS

THIS IS NOT A HISTORY

The series of binders, or books , labeled "Santa Fe Splinters," represents a collection of isolated fragments, or "splinters" of the history of the company to which they pertain. They were picked up along the line when found in the course of the years while engaged in the task of cooperating with the Bureau of Valuation of the Interstate Commerce Commission while that body prepared the valuation of the Santa Fe System, called for under the Valuation Act.

The true and complete history of the Santa Fe will never be written because the records for the early years are now largely non-existent through loss, misplacement, dispersion or destruction. So complete is this loss or dispersion that today one must treasure every fragment or "splinter" that may yet be found to serve as a guide-post in writing a history, should that be attempted.

All of the "splinters," taken together, are not such a history. Anyone who undertakes to write it can hardly ignore them and will take care not to write one inconsistent with them.

To the extent that excerpts from copyrighted newspapers, magazines and books may appear among the "splinters," proper arrangements with authors and publishers would have to be made before actual use of such material is made.

Jos. Weidel
1940

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